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The Running Fad

One powder-puff football game was the extent of my participation in high school sports. I even took Spanish dance – castanets and all – to fulfill my phys ed requirement without exerting the kind of effort actual sports would involve. I really didn’t become active until I gained weight in college and getting my booty moving was part of the key to getting rid of that extra poundage. Even then, running took too much exertion, so I stuck to fitness classes and yoga. Then four years ago, my daughter was born and I had fewer options for staying fit. You can only do the same few workout videos so many times before you can’t stand the thought of them anymore. Then I walked that fateful race that would turn me into a runner.

I ran my first race in 2007. That is when I became a runner. June 23 marked the three year anniversary of that race.

Someone recently wondered when or wished that (I can’t remember which) “this running fad” would end. I know more and more people are running these days. And many of them run for a while and then stop. Some run just long enough to get ready for a race or train just to be part of a Ragnar team. I know plenty of those people. I am not one of them. If you are reading this, there is a good chance you aren’t one of those people either.

Being a runner is not a fad. It is a way of life. It is part of who you are.

I am a runner.


RUN: Can't figure out why I'm having so much shin pain lately. And it isn't just there when I run; it's there off and on throughout the day. Any ideas or suggestions for getting and keeping my shins happy?

Comments

  1. Awesome post, my thoughts exactly!

    Re: your shin pain - I hate to say it, but you might have a stress fracture. Go get an x-ray! I had one two years ago and it was the longest summer of my life not running, but it gave me a real love and respect for cross-training. *fingers crossed* for you that it's nothing serious.

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  2. Yep. I stay in shape so I can run.
    I eat so I can run. I run to be the kind of person I want to be or visa versa :)

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  3. Love your post, Candice. Often shin pain is related to muscle imbalance, the calf is stronger. Find an exercise that will strengthen the shin....

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  4. Great post! Racing was my KoolAid, too. I was hooked after that.

    Hope your shin feels better!

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  5. It's funny, I've been running for ~2 years, but have only come to think of myself as a runner recently. I love this post!

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  6. Being a runner is a way of life - couldn't agree with you more. I have an undisclosed relative who trained for and ran a team-in-training marathon two years ago. I don't think this person has run more than a couple of miles since, but every time someone asks me about my training or about a race, this person always brings their marathon. If you ran a marathon once, you "ran a marathon." If you continually run and train for them, then you are a "marathoner."

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  7. Congrats on your 3 year runiversary! Running has become a way I identify who I am. I may hate it sometimes but I always come back for more :) I recently had someone when I would be done running marathons. They are cool with me running but over me running 26.2. whatever dude!

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  8. I had almost the same timeline. I didn't get into running until college and my kids have spawned a renewed interest in total fitness.

    Oh, and you won my first contest so swing by and check out your dish.
    Joe

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  9. I'm not sure that running can really be considered a 'fad.' You're just moving a little faster than walking. Kinda natural.

    I agree with 'P' given your miniaturized description of your pain. I dealt with minor stress fractures years ago due to overtraining, they went away with just a few weeks rest.

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  10. You wrote that perfectly. Running does become a way of life.

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